When I look back over the years and see all the people I have touched with my gun safetyand concealed carry training, I see one thing in common that everyone could do better and that’s general gun handling procedures. Many of you have good intentions and think you will do it someday. My dad had a saying he used, the road to hell is paved with good intentions “L’enfer est plein de bonnes volontés ou désirs“. This is a proverb. Promises and plans must be put into action, or else they are useless. The fact is that this is serious business and you need to spend some time getting it right.

Checking a gun to see if it is loaded or unloaded properly. (#1 Rule ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED)Proper Procedurea. Point the gun in Safe direction (#2 Rule KEEP THE MUZZLE POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION)b.Magazine out First
Finger off the trigger and trigger guard (#3 Rule KEEP FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER AND TRIGGER GUARD UNTIL ITS TIME TO SHOOT)c. Lock the slide back (pointing the gun in a safe direction)d. Do a visual and physical inspection of the chamber and magazine well (Pointing In A Safe Direction)
All these procedures are done while POINTING IN A SAFE DIRECTION. What is a safe direction?(#4 Rule KNOW YOUR TARGET AND WHATS BEYOND)A safe direction is any direction your willing to launch a bullet. For me and my students, I teach it’s pointing in a safe direction you have chosen straight ahead and parallel to the floor or ground, usually at a target. Not Left or Right or Up and Down. These are not safe directions for gun safety and in most cases become bad gun handling habits.

2. Passing a gun properly from one person to anotherProper Procedurea. Point the gun in a safe directionb. Remove the magazine. All while keeping your finger off the trigger and trigger guardc. Lock the slide back (pointing the gun in a safe direction)
Do a visual and physical inspection of the chamber and magazine well (while pointing in a safe direction)d. Grab the gun in slide lock position with your support hand over the open slide and pass it keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. Gun Safety is a learned skill pass it to your friends and family.

3. Manual of Arms
Many times throughout the year I have asked a person to pick up their gun (the one they should know) and show me that it is safe and unloaded. On some models of guns when the safety is on or engaged it locks the slide. Many times people try to move the slide without knowing that the safety locks the slide and this means they are not familiar with their gun. It is very important that you know your gun better than anyone else because this is the gun you will fumble with when you have to defend yourself or your family.

There seems to be a common theme here for gun owners and a new years resolution. The four gun safety rules are your bible. Know them, understand them, and do not violate them this is the gospel. Practice Practice Practice.(POINT THE GUN IN A SAFE DIRECTION) Most people truly do not spend any time really practicing. If done properly practice can be just a few minutes a couple times a week. People just do not take the time to practice and get familiar with their gun. They think it will magically happen by going to the range once in a while. There are no shortcuts. Make a pledge to become a good gun handler in 2018. Gun Safety is important, if you run into problems or need some council I am always here to help.